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This is an excellent point and you will not get a meaningful response from those who complaint that it takes rookies too long to see the field with the Steelers. First, talented rookies with weak starters in front of them start early - guys like Hampton, Kendrell Bell, etc. Cortez Allen contributed as a rookie and played more this year because he showed that he was ready. Lewis didn't play early because he was not ready to play in the NFL. He had the meltdown in the preseason game last (or maybe two years ago) and was not ready.

Giving rookies a year or two to learn and be slowly worked into games is a luxury - not a problem that needs to be solved.

Moreover, look around the NFL. The rookies that start typically do so on bad teams. There are two reasons for this - first, bad teams pick higher in the draft and are able to select better players. Second, bad teams are bad for a reason - usually because their starters stink. Finally, if you're not playing for anything, you can allow a rookie to make mistakes.

A final point - most rookies are not stars. Leaguewide, a few guys step in and contribute as rookies, but they are the exception, not the rule. Many players, even those in - gasp - a 4-3 defense, take time to adjust to the NFL and take time before they contribute at a high level.

Can you really afford the "luxury" when you constantly create a situation like we have with Keenan Lewis where you get a one full season sample size and then have to sign him to his second contract for big money? A rookie doesn't have to be a starter, but they should be able to get a lot more in game experience so you can both develop and evaluate him.

Playing Fantasy Football does not qualify you to be the in the front office or on the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are professionals and you are not!

Can you really afford the "luxury" when you constantly create a situation like we have with Keenan Lewis where you get a one full season sample size and then have to sign him to his second contract for big money? A rookie doesn't have to be a starter, but they should be able to get a lot more in game experience so you can both develop and evaluate him.

We tried that with Lewis and he constantly failed. We are currently doing that with Cortez Allen. He got playing time last year and even more this year.

Sometimes it takes years to develop the talent. That's just the way football is and it has nothing to do with DL.

Can you really afford the "luxury" when you constantly create a situation like we have with Keenan Lewis where you get a one full season sample size and then have to sign him to his second contract for big money? A rookie doesn't have to be a starter, but they should be able to get a lot more in game experience so you can both develop and evaluate him.

We constantly create a situation like we have with Keenan Lewis where you get a one full season sample size and then have to sign him to his second contract for big money? He's one example. Who are all of the others?

We constantly create a situation like we have with Keenan Lewis where you get a one full season sample size and then have to sign him to his second contract for big money? He's one example. Who are all of the others?

Who would you have given a shot to this year, and who would you have benched?

I was one who thought at the beginning of the year that this teams wasn't going anywhere. As a result I would have given the positions to Cameron Hayward , Jason Worilds, and Jonathan Dwyer (not benched him because he fumbled a couple of times). And I would have drafted different. And it would have been with the thought of giving rookies a chance.

I was one who thought at the beginning of the year that this teams wasn't going anywhere. As a result I would have given the positions to Cameron Hayward , Jason Worilds, and Jonathan Dwyer (not benched him because he fumbled a couple of times). And I would have drafted different. And it would have been with the thought of giving rookies a chance.

Fair enough, and I certainly respect that you answer the question. As for Heyward and Worilds, they both saw plenty of PT this year. Heyward has continued to grow, and I think that eventually he'll be a good starter at DE, but Keisel is a leader on the defense and I wouldn't have benched him. He may not be as good as he was a few years ago, but he is still an asset. I wouldn't bench Harrison or Woodley for Worilds (as a starter) and I think the coaching staff has seen enough of him that they can properly evaluate him. He seems to be a Clark Haggans level player - a solid 3-4 OLB, but not spectacular.

Georgia is the most talented defense this season, I believe. The problem is that they (as usual) underperformed.

Jarvis Jones is a beast and doesn't take plays off.

Ogeltree and Rambo are both uber talented but lack discipline. They are often out of position. Ogletree is not stout in any way. He is great in pursuit and in pass coverage. Rambo is a great talent, but I don't know if his head is screwed on well enough to be a Steeler. Against South Carolina, Rambo got beat deep, then let a smaller receiver take the ball away from him. Then, he topped it off by taking an awful personal foul. He could be a great value pick on day two and could turn out to be an all-pro with his ball skills and instincts. But, just seems like an Oakland Raider to me.

Jenkins is another guy with great talent, but often underperforms too often.

Shawn Williams allows too many big plays.

Sanders Commings has great size and athleticism but is very inconsistent.

Too me, Georgia is soft too often. Players from a team like this scare me a bit.

Even if Bill Belichick was getting an atomic wedgie, his face would look exactly the same.